McClain: Slighted Texans get two chances to win respect

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If the Texans are offended by their Pro Bowl snubs, they should do something about it.

Rather than taking Tuesday’s bad news lying down, losing a third consecutive game and crawling into the playoffs, they should show some pride by defeating Tennessee and winning the wild-card game at Reliant Stadium.

Winning at least two more games would begin to give the Texans some respect they obviously don’t have if you look at the Pro Bowl voting.

Even though the Texans have more victories than any team in franchise history and clinched their first AFC South title, they had more players in the Pro Bowl after their 6-10 season last year. They haven’t had as few as two since 2008.

First, congratulations to running back Arian Foster and cornerback Johnathan Joseph for being voted to the Pro Bowl. They were definitely deserving.

Cushing, Barwin, Brown and any other player who thinks he was slighted should prove it the next two weekends. And perhaps beyond.

Prime-time chumps

The Texans have only themselves to blame for this kind of slight, though.

Why?

Let’s start with one winning record and no playoff appearances in their first nine seasons. They were 0-3 in prime-time games in 2010. And it was good that voting was over before they made their only prime-time appearance this season — Thursday’s debacle at Indianapolis — or they might have been shut out.

The Texans have a five-game losing streak in prime time, when reputations are made. They haven’t won a prime-time game since 2008.

Respect comes from winning. Consistent winning.

Blowing a game one week after clinching the first playoff appearance in franchise history is understandable. The same thing happened to San Francisco after the 49ers secured the NFC West title.

But blowing a second game to the worst team in the league and becoming the first 10-win team in history to lose to a one-win team is incomprehensible.

The Texans should have a lot of angry players right now. Those players have a lot to prove in their next two games.

They were starting to get some well-deserved praise and recognition for their next-man-up motto. They had overcome just about every obstacle tossed in their way.

Now, if you listen to the former players and coaches who serve as experts for the networks, the consensus is that you want to be the sixth-seeded team in the AFC playoffs because you want to play the Texans — a team just about everybody is picking to be one and done.

The Texans are getting so little respect they’re three-point underdogs at home against a team they beat 41-7 in October. The last time the Texans were underdogs at home, they beat Atlanta and the spread.

After that 17-10 victory over the Falcons, the players said they were insulted to be underdogs at Reliant Stadium. Maybe they’ll be insulted again. Players like Cushing, Barwin and Brown should be doubly insulted.

Welcome back

Even though the Texans have nothing to play for Sunday other than their pride, they should get an emotional boost from having back defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and receiver Andre Johnson.

Phillips, still recovering from surgery on his kidney and gallbladder, will coach from the press box.

Johnson’s return isn’t guaranteed. He’s got to practice full speed and show coach Gary Kubiak he’s 100 percent. If he’s able to return, Johnson will inspire his teammates on both sides of the ball. That’s how much he’s respected by his teammates.

Phillips and Johnson are two of the best in history at what they do. Maybe they’ll be just what this team needs to snap out of this two-game funk.
john.mcclain@chron.com